Looking for Work

He Yuqi smiled bitterly, "But my father said that after the New Year I shouldn't come to school anymore. In another six months I'll be of marriageable age, so I should stay at home and wait for the family to arrange a marriage for me." She looked up at Zhao Ruxi, "Zhiwei, you are the smartest and most capable person in our academy, with broad knowledge. You can even work for the court. Can you help me think of a way for me to become independent? I don't want to get married like this. My sister got married, and she spends all her time serving her in-laws and husband, having to put up with their attitudes and endure their mistreatment. Her life is very difficult. I don't want to live like her."

"I want to be like you and Madam Cui, with a certain status and position, able to earn my own living. Even after I get married, his family won't dare to treat me badly, and I won't dare to leave even if they tell me to get out. I'll shamelessly stay in their house and refuse to leave."

Although we don't know what traumatized the girl, it's true that her sister is having a very difficult time with her husband's family.

In fact, Zhao Ruxi was somewhat curious about her sister's experiences. After all, women in that era did not have a high social status, but they were not entirely without protection.

Judging from He Yuqi's attire, although not as elegant as that of Mu Qingqiang and other women from aristocratic families, it wasn't bad either, at least better than Xu Xue's. In addition, the fact that her family could afford to send her to the academy indicated that her family was quite well-off.

Since her family is well-off, her sister's marriage will definitely come with a dowry. Having a dowry gives her confidence; at least she won't be living off or wearing other people's clothes.

In addition, her parents are still alive and she has brothers. Her father is even a scholar who passed the imperial examination. With such a supportive family, her husband's family wouldn't dare to mistreat their daughter-in-law too much, or at least wouldn't dare to tell her to get out so easily.

Therefore, Zhao Ruxi doesn't understand how badly He Yuqi's sister is doing, which has caused He Yuqi to be so upset.

But this is their private matter, and He Yuqi didn't say anything, she couldn't pry.

Seeing Zhao Ruxi frown slightly and remain silent, He Yuqi bit her lip and said, "If I don't listen to my father after the New Year and insist on coming to the academy, he might cut off my financial support and stop giving me money."

"I heard from Xu Xue that you encouraged her to write storybooks. You even wrote her a story outline at first and helped her revise it several times before her first storybook sold. Now her second one has also sold, and she earns money every month. So I'd like to ask you if you could give me any advice so that I can also support myself with my own abilities."

Zhao Ruxi thought for a moment and asked, "Can you tell me what your special skills are?"

He Yuqi gave a wry smile, "I just don't know what my special talents are."

After hearing about Xu Xue's story, she reflected on her own strengths and was devastated to find that while she seemed to be good at everything, she didn't really have any outstanding talents.

"But you seem to be quite good in every way. Why don't you talk to Madam Cui? Maybe the academy needs someone to manage it," Zhao Ruxi suggested.

Her business has expanded significantly, which could provide He Yuqi with job opportunities.

However, her workshops and shops were hidden in the shadows, and involved a great deal of people. It was really inconvenient for He Yuqi, an outsider, to get involved.

What's readily apparent are the estate and a few rice noodle shops. He Yuqi has neither managed an estate nor any business experience. As for the accounting, Zhao Ruxi's subordinates are doing a great job; forcing the job onto He Yuqi He Yuqi might not be enough, and Zhao Ruxi.

If He Yuqi was truly desperate, Zhao Ruxi would naturally lend a helping hand. However, He Yuqi's jewelry was worth two or three hundred taels of silver, while Zhao Ruxi herself was facing a dangerous situation. She could only help He Yuqi without causing trouble for herself.

He Yuqi's abilities are limited, and the help she can offer is also limited.

Hearing Zhao Ruxi's suggestion, He Yuqi smiled wryly and shook her head, saying, "I've already asked Madam Cui. She said the academy doesn't need many people to manage it. Even if there is a need, it will be given to the students in North Academy Class A. This is a reward for outstanding students."

Zhao Ruxi nodded.

The academy was originally built with funds from Empress Shengyao and the ladies of the royal family and nobles, and its income and expenditure were usually balanced. If there was a slight surplus at the end of the year, the surplus would be donated to the charity; if there was a slight deficit, the deficit would be subsidized by the ladies of the royal family and nobles.

Therefore, Madam Cui was meticulous in managing the academy, trying to save expenses as much as possible. Otherwise, if she had to ask those royal and noble ladies for money every year, they would definitely replace her.

Currently, the academy is mainly managed by a few ladies from prominent families, such as Madam Cui and Madam Chen. They handle both management and teaching, taking on multiple roles. Miscellaneous tasks are handled by their servants, which saves the academy a lot of expenses. Therefore, there are no management positions available for students.

Seeing Zhao Ruxi deep in thought, He Yuqi said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I know I'm asking you this to make things difficult for you. There are so many wealthy young men in the capital, and many scholars in the county can't find work. I don't have any skills myself, so isn't it just making things difficult for you?"

She stood up. "But Zhiwei, you are someone I admire very much, really. No matter what situation I find myself in in the future, I will always take you as my role model."

She bowed and said, "Farewell."

"Wait," Zhao Ruxi called out to her, "I'll go back to the academy with you. I need to speak with Madam Cui."

By the time the two handed in their papers, the exam was already nearing its end. The back-and-forth delay meant that not only was the exam over at the academy, but the students who couldn't wait to go home and enjoy their vacation had already left, and even some of the students who lived on campus had left, while others were waiting for their families to pick them up.

Zhao Ruxi went to Madam Cui's office and, sure enough, saw her there watching the teachers receive their exam papers.

Except for North Academy Class A, all other classes created their own exam papers.

Upon seeing Zhao Ruxi, Madam Cui tossed out a sentence: "You can lead them yourselves." Then she came out and said to Zhao Ruxi, "Even if you hadn't come, I would have gone to find you anyway."

She led Zhao Ruxi to her small courtyard.

Seeing that Madam Cui had something to say to her, Zhao Ruxi put aside her own matters and planned to wait until Madam Cui finished speaking before responding.

But Madam Cui hesitated, unable to speak for a long time.

"Master, what's wrong? Is there something you can't say?" she asked curiously.

"Alas," Madam Cui sighed, "We didn't think things through. Originally, Grand Princess Shangde and I, Zhang Luo, participated in the exam with the Capital Women's Academy because you were so outstanding, and we couldn't help but want to show off. But judging from today's situation, it's possible that Consort Jin will try to steal you away from us."

She looked at Zhao Ruxi and said, "But you don't need to make things difficult for yourself. If you want to go to the Capital Women's Academy, then go. Just don't offend Consort Jin because of us. Even if you are Mister Kumu's apprentice, if you offend her, you probably won't have a good outcome."